WRC Rally Chile Odds: Rovanperä favored for second straight win

A retirement on home soil left World Rally Championship (WRC) leader Kalle Rovanperä within reach for multiple drivers ahead of the Acropolis Rally. Organizers nearly called off the event due to widespread flooding, and conditions were tricky throughout. Rovanperä secured a dominant win by a minute and a half to extend his lead in the championship. Now, the grid heads to South America, and the WRC Rally Chile Odds point to him all but securing the championship this weekend.

Rovanperä, Neuville lead the WRC odds

Defending WRC champion Rovanperä got off to a slower start in 2023 than his title campaign last year. It took until round five in Portugal for him to notch his first win of the season. That preceded a run of four podium finishes in five races, including wins in Estonia and Greece, which gives him a 33-point lead in the WRC championship standings.

He proved with his win in Greece that the retirement in Finland was not a sign of things to come. At +110, Rovanperä’s the favorite in Chile again among the WRC leaders. He can clinch the 2023 title here if he wins and second-place Elfyn Evans both finishes sixth or lower overall and behind him in power stage points. He’d be the first Finnish driver to win consecutive titles since Tommi Mäkinen in 1996-99.

Thierry Neuville’s the closest challenger in odds at +250. The Belgian driver had a rally to forget in Greece. He held a 10-second lead over Sébastien Ogier by stage 10 only to suffer suspension damage and losing a chance at victory. He finished 20th and saw his title chances all but disappear.

The WRC has raced in Chile only once in 2019. That event saw Neuville endure one of the worst crashes of his career and retire from the race. Before a solid start in Greece, Neuville finished second in both Estonia and Finland. If he can maintain this pace and have better luck, he’ll fight for the win this week.

Longer WRC Rally Chile Odds for victory this weekend

Ott Tänak is the only driver on the grid who can say he’s won the WRC Rally Chile. His win in 2019 kicked off a run of four wins in the final seven events to crown him as the champion over Neuville.

He’s had less success this year as the WRC schedule comes to Chile. His win in Sweden in round two remains his only victory of the season and one of just two podium finishes. He won this race in 2019 by 23 seconds over Ogier and could play a spoiler to Rovanperä’s title-clinching hopes. At +550, he’s an ideal pick for a big payout compared to the favorites.

Evans is close behind at +650. His second-place finish to Rovanperä in Greece keeps him alive in the 2023 title fight. He’s been close in both 2020 and 2021 and has become the primary challenger to the leader this year as well. Wins in Croatia and Finland and three other podiums (Mexico, Kenya, and Greece) have him close enough to teammate Rovanperä.

Last time out in Chile, Evans was far from the fastest rally racer on the gravel roads. He finished fourth at more than a minute and a half behind Tänak. This year, he’s in a different machine and in much better form. He may not take the win, but he’ll definitely be in the mix for a podium.

Esapekka Lappi rounds out the last of the long odds worth considering at +1400. The Finn has struggled recently with just one podium in the last four rounds (third in Estonia). His retirement in Finland dropped him to sixth in the standings behind Ogier, who’s racing part-time in 2023. It’d be a huge surprise to see him on the top step.

WRC Rally Chile predictions

Chile provides smooth, fast roads combing through forests and winding along the Pacific Ocean. It’s great scenery for the fans and drivers and will likely be an exciting race in its return to the WRC calendar.

The WRC Rally Chile Odds point to Rovanperä taking his second win in a row. Of the favorites, he’s the better choice. Neuville’s fresh off a frustrating finish in Greece and had a terrible crash last time out in Chile.

Of the longer odds, Evans is the pick here. He’s been the best driver over the last four WRC races aside from Rovanperä and could keep the 2023 title exciting for another round into the Central European Rally.

For WRC betting odds and analysis, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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